Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
by and among
REDFORD HOLDCO, LLC
,
and
REDFORD MERGER CO.
,
and
SPIRIT FINANCE
CORPORATION
Dated as of March 12,
2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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THE MERGER
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1.1
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The Merger
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2
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1.2
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Charter and Bylaws
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2
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1.3
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Effective Time
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2
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1.4
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Closing
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3
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1.5
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Directors and Officers of the Surviving
Company
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3
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ARTICLE II
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MERGER CONSIDERATION; EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON
THE SHARES OF THE CONSTITUENT COMPANIES
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2.1
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Effect on Stock
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3
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2.2
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Exchange of Certificates
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4
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2.3
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Withholding Rights
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7
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2.4
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Dissenters’ Rights
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7
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2.5
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Adjustment of Merger Consideration
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7
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2.6
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Subsequent Actions
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7
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ARTICLE III
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
COMPANY
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3.1
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Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries and
Other Interests
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8
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3.2
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Capitalization
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10
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3.3
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Authority Relative to this Agreement;
Stockholder Approval
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11
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3.4
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Reports; Financial Statements
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12
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3.5
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No Undisclosed Liabilities
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14
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3.6
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Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Quarter
End
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14
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3.7
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Consents and Approvals; No Violations
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14
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3.8
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Litigation
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15
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3.9
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Properties
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15
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3.10
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Employee Plans
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20
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3.11
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Labor Matters
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22
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3.12
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Environmental Matters
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23
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3.13
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Tax Matters
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25
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3.14
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Material Contracts
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29
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3.15
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Opinion of Financial Advisor
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31
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3.16
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Brokers
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32
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3.17
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Takeover Statutes
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32
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3.18
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Transactions With Affiliates
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32
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3.19
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Investment Company Act of 1940
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32
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3.20
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Intellectual Property
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32
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3.21
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Insurance
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33
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3.22
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Definition of the Company’s
Knowledge
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33
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ii
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3.23
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Proxy Statement; Company Information
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34
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3.24
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Permits
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34
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3.25
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WKSI Status
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34
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3.26
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Certain Regulatory Matters
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34
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ARTICLE IV
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND
MERGER SUB
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4.1
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Corporate Organization
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35
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4.2
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Authority Relative to this Agreement
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36
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4.3
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Consents and Approvals; No Violations
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37
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4.4
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Litigation
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37
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4.5
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Available Funds; Performance
Guarantee
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38
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4.6
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Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior
Activities
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38
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4.7
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No Ownership of Company Capital Stock
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38
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4.8
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Proxy Statement
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39
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ARTICLE V
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CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE
MERGER
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5.1
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Conduct of Business by the Company
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39
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ARTICLE VI
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COVENANTS
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6.1
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Preparation of the Proxy Statement;
Stockholders’ Meeting
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44
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6.2
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Other Filings
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45
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6.3
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Additional Agreements
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45
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6.4
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Permitted Solicitation
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46
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6.5
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Officers’ and Directors’ Exculpation
and Indemnification
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50
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6.6
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Access to Information;
Confidentiality
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53
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6.7
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Public Announcements
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54
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6.8
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Employee Benefit Arrangements
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54
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6.9
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Certain Tax Matters
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55
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6.10
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Interim Period Dividends
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56
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6.11
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Resignation of Company’s
Directors
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56
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6.12
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Additional Acquisitions
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56
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6.13
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Financing
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56
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6.14
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Takeover Laws
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57
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6.15
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Notification of Certain Matters
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57
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ARTICLE VII
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CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
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7.1
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Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party to
Effect the Merger
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57
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7.2
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Additional Conditions to Obligations of Parent
and Merger Sub
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58
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7.3
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Additional Conditions to Obligations of the
Company
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59
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7.4
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Frustration of Closing Conditions
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60
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iii
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ARTICLE VIII
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TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
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8.1
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Termination
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60
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8.2
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Effect of Termination
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61
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8.3
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Fees and Expenses
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63
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8.4
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Amendment
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64
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8.5
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Extension; Waiver
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64
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ARTICLE IX
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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9.1
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Notices
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64
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9.2
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Certain Definitions
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66
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9.3
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Terms Defined Elsewhere
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66
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9.4
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Interpretation
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69
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9.5
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Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties,
Covenants and Agreements
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69
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9.6
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Performance Guaranty
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69
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9.7
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Transfer Taxes
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70
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9.8
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Enforcement
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70
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9.9
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Miscellaneous
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70
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9.10
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Assignment; Benefit
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70
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9.11
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Severability
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71
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9.12
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Choice of Law/Consent to Jurisdiction
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71
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9.13
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Counterparts
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71
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9.14
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Non-Recourse
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72
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EXHIBIT
A FORM OF LIMITED GUARANTY
iv
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER,
dated as of March 12, 2007 (this “ Agreement ”),
is made by and among REDFORD HOLDCO, LLC , a Delaware
limited liability company (“ Parent ”),
REDFORD MERGER CO. , a Maryland corporation (“
Merger Sub ”), and SPIRIT FINANCE CORPORATION ,
a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”).
All capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in Section 9.2 or as otherwise
defined elsewhere in this Agreement unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the parties wish to effect
a combination through a merger of Merger Sub with and into the
Company (the “ Merger ”) on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the
Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended (the “
MGCL ”), pursuant to which each issued and outstanding
share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company
(collectively, the “ Company Shares ”), shall be
converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration (as
defined herein) upon the terms and subject to the conditions
provided herein;
WHEREAS, Parent and the Company have
entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase
Agreement”) dated the date hereof whereby Parent has agreed
to purchase 6,150,000 Company Shares on the terms and conditions
set forth therein;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “ Company Board ”) has approved
this Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Stock
Purchase Agreement and deems it advisable and in the best interests
of the Company’s stockholders to enter into this Agreement
and to consummate the Merger on the terms and conditions set forth
herein;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of
Merger Sub and Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, have
declared advisable, authorized and approved this Agreement, the
Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in
accordance with the requirements of the MGCL and the charter and
bylaws of Merger Sub; and
WHEREAS, Parent, Merger Sub and the
Company desire to make certain representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger, and also to
prescribe various conditions to the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound, Parent, Merger
Sub and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1
The Merger
. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined
herein), the Company and Merger Sub shall consummate the Merger,
pursuant to which (i) Merger Sub shall be merged with and into
the Company and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub
shall thereupon cease and (ii) the Company shall be the
surviving corporation in the Merger (the “ Surviving
Company ”) and shall become a direct wholly-owned
Subsidiary of Parent by virtue of ownership of all of the Company
Shares. The corporate existence of the Company, with all its
purposes, rights, privileges, franchises, powers and objects, shall
continue unaffected and unimpaired by the Merger and, as the
Surviving Company, it shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Maryland. The Merger shall have the effects specified in
Section 3-114 of the MGCL.
1.2
Charter and Bylaws
.
(a)
The name of the Surviving Company
shall be “Spirit Finance Corporation.”
(b)
The Company Charter as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, will be amended as part of
the Merger so as to contain the provisions, and only the
provisions, contained immediately prior to the Effective Time in
the charter of Merger Sub, except for Article II thereof, which
shall read “The name of the corporation is Spirit Finance
Corporation,” and, as so amended, shall be the charter of the
Surviving Company until thereafter amended or further supplemented
in accordance with its terms and Maryland law (the “
Surviving Company Charter ”). References herein
to the Merger shall include the amendments to the Company Charter
to be effected as part of the Merger.
(c)
The Bylaws of the Company as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time will be amended by
the Company Board as of the Effective Time so as to contain the
provisions, and only the provisions, contained immediately prior to
the Effective Time in the Bylaws of Merger Sub and, as so amended,
shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Company until thereafter
amended in accordance with their terms and Maryland law (the
“ Surviving Company Bylaws ”).
1.3
Effective Time
.
(a)
On the Closing Date, Merger Sub and
the Company shall duly execute and file articles of merger (the
“ Articles of Merger ”) with the State
Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “
SDAT ”) in accordance with Section 3-107 of the
MGCL. The Articles of Merger shall include, among other
things, the amendments to the Company Charter to be effected as
part of the Merger. The Merger shall become effective upon
such time as the Articles of Merger have been accepted for record
by the SDAT, or such later time which the parties hereto shall have
agreed upon and designated in such filing in accordance with the
MGCL as the effective time of the
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Merger but not to exceed 30 days
after the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT
(the “ Effective Time ”).
(b)
Unless otherwise agreed, the parties
shall cause the Effective Time to occur on the Closing Date (as
defined below).
1.4
Closing . The closing of the Merger (the “
Closing ”) shall occur as promptly as practicable (but
in no event later than the fifth Business Day) after all of the
conditions set forth in Article VII (other than conditions
that by their terms are required to be satisfied or waived as of
the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such
conditions at the Closing) shall have been satisfied or, to the
extent permitted by applicable Law, waived by the party entitled to
the benefit of the same (unless extended by the mutual agreement of
the parties hereto) or on such other day as the parties hereto may
mutually agree, and, subject to the foregoing, shall take place at
such time and on a date to be specified by the parties (the “
Closing Date ”). The Closing shall take place at
the offices of Kutak Rock LLP, or at such other place as mutually
agreed to by the parties hereto.
1.5
Directors and Officers of the
Surviving Company .
The directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall become the directors of the Surviving Company as of the
Effective Time and the officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall become the officers of the Surviving
Company as of the Effective Time, each to hold office in accordance
with the Surviving Company Charter and Surviving Company Bylaws.
The current directors of the Company shall resign, effective as of
the Effective Time, and the directors of Merger Sub shall be
elected as directors of the Surviving Company in accordance with
Maryland law.
ARTICLE II
MERGER CONSIDERATION; EFFECT OF
THE MERGER
ON THE SHARES OF THE CONSTITUENT COMPANIES
2.1
Effect on Stock
. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any
holder of any Company Shares or any shares of stock of Merger
Sub:
(a)
Stock of Merger Sub
. Each share of common stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one
fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01
per share, of the Surviving Company. Each share of preferred
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub (the “
Merger Sub Preferred Stock ”) issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one
fully paid and nonassessable share of preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of the Surviving Company (the “ Surviving
Company Preferred Stock ”). The Surviving Company Charter
shall contain the terms and rights of the Surviving Company
Preferred Stock, which shall be the same as those of the Merger Sub
Preferred Stock.
(b)
Conversion of Company
Shares . Each
Company Share (other than Excluded Shares, as defined below) issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the
3
Effective Time shall automatically
be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to
$14.50, without interest (the “ Merger Consideration
”).
(c)
Cancellation of Parent-Owned and
Merger Sub-Owned Shares . Each issued and outstanding Company
Share that is owned by the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or any
Subsidiary of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub immediately prior
to the Effective Time (collectively, the “ Excluded
Shares ”) shall automatically be canceled and retired and
shall cease to exist, and no cash, Merger Consideration or other
consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange
therefor.
(d)
Cancellation of Shares
. As of the Effective Time,
all Company Shares (other than Excluded Shares) issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall no longer
be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and
shall cease to exist, and each holder of a Company Share shall
cease to have any rights with respect to such interest, except, in
all cases, the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without
interest.
(e)
Restricted Shares and Stock
Options . Parent
and Merger Sub acknowledge that, except as set forth on Section 2.1
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all options to purchase Company
Shares (“ Company Stock Options ”) and
restricted share awards (the “ Company Restricted
Shares ”) granted under any director or employee stock
option and incentive plan, equity compensation plan or similar
arrangement of the Company (collectively, the “ Company
Stock Option Plan ”) shall vest in full immediately prior
to the Effective Time so as to no longer be subject to any
forfeiture or vesting requirements (whether or not then vested or
subject to any performance condition that has not been
satisfied). As of the Effective Time, each then outstanding
unexercised Company Stock Option shall be cancelled by the Company
and in consideration of such cancellation, the Company shall pay to
each holder thereof (and, if requested by the Company at least five
Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall provide cash
to the Company for such payment) at the Effective Time in cash, net
of withholding, an amount per Company Share subject to such
cancelled Company Stock Option equal to the excess, if any, of (i)
the Merger Consideration, over (ii) the per share exercise price
for such Company Stock Option (the “Option
Consideration”). As of the Effective Time, each then
outstanding Company Restricted Share that vests under this Section
2.1(e) shall be cancelled by the Company and in consideration of
such cancellation, the Company shall pay to each holder thereof
(and, if requested by the Company at least five Business Days prior
to the Closing Date, Parent shall provide cash to the Company for
such payment) at the Effective Time in cash, net of withholding, an
amount per Company Restricted Share equal to the Merger
Consideration.
2.2
Exchange of
Certificates .
(a)
Paying Agent
. Prior to the mailing of the
Proxy Statement, Parent shall appoint a bank or trust company
reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as Paying Agent (the
“ Paying Agent ”) for the cash payment in
accordance with this Article II of the Merger Consideration
(such cash being referred to as the “ Payment Fund
”). At the Effective Time, Parent shall cause Merger Sub to
deposit with the Paying Agent the
4
Payment Fund for the benefit of the
holders of Company Shares. The Paying Agent shall make
payments of the Merger Consideration out of the Payment Fund in
accordance with this Agreement and the Articles of Merger.
The Payment Fund shall not be used for any other purpose. Any and
all interest earned on cash deposited in the Payment Fund shall be
paid to Parent.
(b)
Share Transfer Books
. On the Closing Date, the
share transfer books of the Company shall be closed and thereafter
there shall be no further registration of transfers of the Company
Shares. From and after the Closing Date, (i) the holders of
certificates representing ownership of the Company Shares
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a
“ Certificate ”) and (ii) holders of
Company Stock Options or Company Restricted Shares (each, a “
Grant ”), which shares and options shall vest in full
immediately prior to the Effective Time pursuant to
Section 2.1(e), shall cease to have rights with respect to
such shares or options, except as otherwise provided for
herein. On or after the Closing Date, any Certificates
presented to the Paying Agent, the Surviving Company or the
transfer agent for any reason shall be exchanged for the Merger
Consideration with respect to the Company Shares formerly
represented thereby.
(c)
Payment Procedures
. As soon as possible after
the Closing Date (but in any event within three Business Days
thereof), the Surviving Company shall cause the Paying Agent to
mail to each holder of record of Certificate(s) that, immediately
prior to the Effective Time, represented outstanding Company Shares
whose shares were converted into the right to receive or be
exchanged for Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1:
(i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery
shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates
shall pass to the Paying Agent, only upon delivery of the
Certificates to the Paying Agent, and which letter shall be in such
form and have such other provisions as Parent, the Paying Agent and
the Company may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for
use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for
the Merger Consideration to which the holder thereof is
entitled. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to
the Paying Agent or to such other agent or agents reasonably
satisfactory to the Company as may be appointed by Parent, together
with such letter of transmittal, duly executed and completed in
accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents
as may reasonably be required by the Paying Agent, the holder of
such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor
the Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Company Shares
previously represented by such Certificate pursuant to the
provisions of this Article II, and the Certificate so
surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a
transfer of ownership of Company Shares that is not registered in
the transfer records of the Company, payment may be made to a
Person other than the Person in whose name the Certificate so
surrendered is registered, if such Certificate shall be properly
endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the Person
requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other Taxes
required by reason of the payment to a Person other than the
registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the
reasonable satisfaction of Parent that such Tax has been paid or is
not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this
Section 2.2, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time
after the Closing Date to represent only the right to receive, upon
such surrender, the Merger
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Consideration as contemplated by
this Section 2.2. No interest shall be paid or accrue on
any cash payable upon surrender of any Certificate.
(d)
No Further Ownership Rights in
the Company Shares . On the Closing Date, holders of Company
Shares shall cease to be, and shall have no rights as, stockholders
of the Company other than the right to receive the Merger
Consideration provided under this Article II and, if
applicable, any distributions on Company Shares declared in
accordance with Section 5.1 but not paid as of the Closing
Date. The Merger Consideration or the consideration set forth
in Section 2.1(e) with respect to Company Stock Options paid or
delivered upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates or Grants
representing Company Shares in accordance with the terms of this
Article II shall be deemed to have been paid in full
satisfaction of all rights and privileges pertaining to the Company
Shares or Company Stock Options exchanged therefor.
(e)
Termination of Payment
Fund . Any portion
of the Payment Fund which remains undistributed to the holders of
the Certificates for twelve months after the Closing Date, shall be
delivered to the Surviving Company and any holders of Company
Shares prior to the Merger who have not theretofore complied with
this Article II shall thereafter look only to the Surviving
Company and only as general creditors thereof for payment of the
Merger Consideration.
(f)
No Liability
. None of the Parent, Merger
Sub, the Surviving Company, the Company or the Paying Agent, or any
employee, officer, director, agent or Affiliate thereof, shall be
liable to any Person in respect of Merger Consideration from the
Payment Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any
Company Shares shall not have been surrendered prior to the end of
the applicable escheat period (or such earlier date as shall be
immediately prior to the date that such unclaimed funds would
otherwise become subject to any applicable abandoned property,
escheat or similar Law), any such unclaimed funds payable with
respect to such Company Shares shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Company, free
and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously
entitled thereto.
(g)
Investment of Payment
Fund . The Paying
Agent shall invest any cash included in the Payment Fund, as
directed by Parent, on a daily basis. Any interest and other income
resulting from such investments shall be paid to Parent. To the
extent that there are losses with respect to such investments, or
the Payment Fund diminishes for other reasons below the level
required to make prompt payments of the Merger Consideration as
contemplated hereby, Parent shall promptly replace or restore the
portion of the Payment Fund lost through investments or other
events so as to ensure that the Payment Fund is, at all times,
maintained at a level sufficient to make such payments.
(h)
Lost Certificates
. If any Certificate shall
have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to
be lost, stolen or destroyed and the posting of a bond to the
reasonable satisfaction of Parent and the Paying Agent, the Paying
Agent will issue, in exchange for
6
such lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate, the Merger Consideration payable in respect thereof,
pursuant to this Agreement.
2.3
Withholding Rights
. The Surviving Company,
Parent or the Paying Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to
deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Company Shares or
Company Stock Options, such amounts as it is required to deduct and
withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code
(as defined herein), and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax
Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the
Surviving Company or the Paying Agent, as applicable, such withheld
amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as
having been paid to the holder of Company Shares or Company Stock
Options, in respect of which such deduction and withholding was
made by the Surviving Company, Parent or the Paying Agent, as
applicable.
2.4
Dissenters’
Rights . No
dissenters’ or appraisal rights shall be available with
respect to the Merger or any other transaction contemplated
hereby.
2.5
Adjustment of Merger
Consideration . In
the event that, subsequent to the date of this Agreement but prior
to the Effective Time, the Company Shares issued and outstanding
shall, through a reorganization, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split
or other similar change in the capitalization of the Company
increase or decrease in number or be changed into or exchanged for
a different kind or number of securities, then an appropriate and
proportionate adjustment shall be made to the Merger Consideration,
provided , however , that nothing set forth in this
Section 2.5 shall be construed to supersede or in any way
limit the prohibitions set forth in Section 5.1
hereof.
2.6
Subsequent Actions
. If at any time after the
Effective Time any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, assurances or
any other actions or things are necessary to continue, vest,
perfect or confirm of record or otherwise the Surviving
Company’s right, title or interest in, to or under any of the
rights, properties, privileges, franchises or assets of the Company
as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger, or otherwise to
carry out the intent of this Agreement, the officers and directors
of the Surviving Company shall be authorized to execute and
deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company, all such deeds,
bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to take and do, in
the name and on behalf of the Company or otherwise, all such other
actions and things as may be necessary to vest, perfect or confirm
any and all right, title and interest in, to and under such rights,
properties, privileges, franchises or assets in the Surviving
Company or otherwise to carry out the intent of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants
to Parent and Merger Sub that the statements contained in this
Article III are true and correct except as set forth in the
disclosure schedule attached to this Agreement (the “
Company Disclosure Schedule ”). The Company
Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in paragraphs corresponding
to the numbered and lettered paragraphs contained in this
Article III and the disclosure in any paragraph shall qualify
and apply to other
7
paragraphs in this Article III
to the extent reasonably apparent that such disclosure would relate
to such other paragraphs.
3.1
Organization and Qualification;
Subsidiaries and Other Interests .
(a)
The Company is a corporation duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Maryland. The Company Charter, as amended
through the date hereof, is in effect and no dissolution,
revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding the Company have
been commenced. The Company is duly qualified or licensed to
do business as a foreign entity and is in good standing under the
laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the
properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in which the
transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing
necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be
so qualified or licensed would not reasonably be likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect. The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to own, operate, lease and encumber its properties and
carry on its business as now conducted. The term “
Company Material Adverse Effect ” means a material
adverse effect on (x) the assets, liabilities, condition
(financial or otherwise), business or results of operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (y) the
ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated
by, or to perform its obligations under, this Agreement prior to
the Outside Date, or (z) the ability of (i) the Company to qualify
as a REIT prior to the Effective Time or (ii) the Company to
qualify as a REIT after the Effective Time, assuming solely for
this purpose that the Merger was not consummated; provided ,
however , that none of the following, in and of itself or
themselves, shall be considered in determining whether a Company
Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred under clause (x)
of this definition:
(i)
changes arising out of or resulting
from the announcement of this Agreement;
(ii)
changes in the economy or financial
markets, including, without limitation, prevailing interest rates
and market conditions, generally in the United States or globally
or that are the result of acts of war or terrorism, except to the
extent any of the same disproportionately affects the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries as compared to other companies in the
industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries
operate;
(iii)
changes that are proximately caused
by factors generally affecting the industry in which the Company
and its Subsidiaries operate, except to the extent any of the same
disproportionately affects the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(iv)
changes in, or in the application
of, GAAP;
(v)
changes in applicable Laws, except
to the extent any of the same disproportionately affects the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries as compared to
8
other companies in the industry in
which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate;
(vi)
any failure by the Company to meet
any estimates of revenues or earnings for any period ending on or
after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing; provided
that the exception in this clause shall not prevent or otherwise
affect a determination that any change, effect, circumstance or
development underlying such failure or that such reduced revenues
or earnings constitutes, has resulted in, or contributed to, a
Company Material Adverse Effect; and
(vii)
a decline in the per share stock
price of the Company Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(“NYSE”); provided that the exception in this
clause shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that
any change, effect, circumstance or development underlying such
decline constitutes, has resulted in, or contributed to, a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
For purposes of this Agreement, the
industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate shall be
the industry of acquiring and investing in triple net lease real
estate located in the United States.
(b)
Each Company Subsidiary (as defined
below) of the Company is listed in Section 3.1(b) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, and each such entity is a corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or business trust duly
incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization
and has the requisite corporate power or other power and authority
to own its properties and to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted, except where the failure to be so organized,
existing or in good standing or to have such power and authority
would not reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Company
Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the ownership of its
property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification
or licensure, except for jurisdictions in which such failure to be
so qualified or to be in good standing would not reasonably be
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement,
“ Company Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of
the Company, and “ Material Subsidiary ” means a
Company Subsidiary owning Company Properties with an aggregate
investment or book value in excess of $20,000,000 on an individual
basis. The aggregate investment or book value of the Company
Properties owned by all of the Company Subsidiaries that are not
Material Subsidiaries does not exceed $100,000,000. Section
3.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and
complete list of each Company Subsidiary which is a
“qualified REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of
Section 856(i) of the Code, or a “taxable REIT
subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the
Code.
(c)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all of the
outstanding equity, voting securities, voting interests or other
interests of each of the Company Subsidiaries have been validly
issued and are (A) fully paid and
9
nonassessable, (B) owned by the
Company or by a Company Subsidiary, and (C) owned, directly or
indirectly, free and clear of any Lien (as hereinafter
defined). For purposes of this Agreement, “ Lien
” means, with respect to any asset (including any security),
any mortgage, claim, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or
encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset.
(d)
Except for the interests in the
Company Subsidiaries set forth in Section 3.1(b) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, and except as set forth in
Section 3.1(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the
Company nor any Company Subsidiary owns directly or indirectly any
interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any Person
(other than investments in short-term investment securities or cash
equivalents).
(e)
The Company has previously made
available to Parent true and complete copies of the Company Charter
and the Company’s bylaws (the “Company Bylaws”)
and the comparable organizational documents of each Material
Subsidiary, each as amended through the date hereof. Such
documents are in full force and effect.
3.2
Capitalization
.
(a)
The Company Charter authorizes the
issuance of up to 375,000,000 Company Shares and 125,000,000 shares
of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Preferred
Shares”). As of the date of this Agreement,
(i) 107,935,085 Company Shares were issued and
outstanding, (ii) 4,100,000 Company Shares have been
authorized and reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company Stock
Option Plan, (iii) 1,260,000 Company Stock Options were
outstanding, and (iv) 885,448 Company Restricted Shares were
outstanding. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company
had no Company Shares or Preferred Shares reserved for issuance or
required to be reserved for issuance other than as described
above. All such issued and outstanding shares of stock of the
Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive or similar rights arising
under any provisions of the MGCL, the Company Charter or Company
Bylaws or any agreement to which the Company is a party or is
otherwise bound.
(b)
The Company has no outstanding
bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which
have the right to vote (or which are convertible into or
exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the
stockholders of the Company on any matter.
(c)
Except for the Company Stock Options
and Company Restricted Shares, there are no existing options,
warrants, calls, subscription rights, convertible securities or
other rights, agreements or commitments (contingent or otherwise)
which obligate the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue,
transfer or sell any stock (or similar ownership interest) of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary, securities which are convertible
into or exercisable or exchangeable for any such shares (or similar
ownership interests), or equity equivalents, stock appreciation
rights or phantom stock ownership interests in the Company or any
Company Subsidiary or similar rights. Except for
the
10
Company Stock Options and Company
Restricted Shares, the Company has not issued any share
appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance
awards, restricted stock unit awards or “phantom”
shares. True and complete copies of all instruments (or the
forms of such instruments) referred to in this Section 3.2(c)
have been furnished or made available to Parent.
(d)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.2(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and those
set forth in the Company Charter or in the organizational documents
of the Company Subsidiaries, there are no agreements or
understandings to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a
party with respect to the voting of any stock (or other ownership
interests) of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or which
restrict the transfer of any such stock (or ownership interests)
except in the case of the Company Subsidiaries with respect to
transfer restrictions related to securities law compliance set
forth on the face of any certificates representing stock or other
ownership interests of the Company Subsidiaries, nor does the
Company have knowledge of any third party agreements or
understandings with respect to the voting of any such shares (or
other ownership interests) or which restrict the transfer of any
such shares (or other ownership interests).
(e)
Except for Company Restricted Shares
that fail to vest and except as set forth in Section 3.2(c)
and Section 3.2(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there
are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem, exchange, convert or
otherwise acquire any stock or any other securities of the Company
or any Company Subsidiary.
(f)
Except as provided in the Stock
Purchase Agreement, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary
is under any obligation, contingent or otherwise, by reason of any
agreement to register the offer and sale or resale of any of its
securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“ Securities Act ”).
3.3
Authority Relative to this
Agreement; Stockholder Approval .
(a)
The Company has all necessary
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement
and to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby. No other proceedings on the part of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby (other than, with respect to the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
amendment to the Company Charter to be effected as part of the
Merger, the Company Stockholder Approval (as hereinafter
defined)). This Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery hereof by each of Parent and
Merger Sub, constitutes a valid, legal and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with and
subject to its terms and conditions except for (i) the
enforceability of Section 1.5 hereof, or (ii) as enforceability may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or
by general equity principles.
11
(b)
The Company Board has, by unanimous
approval, duly and validly authorized the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, has declared advisable and in the best interests of
the Company and the Stockholders the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby, including the amendments to the
Company Charter to be effected as part of the Merger, and no other
actions are required to be taken by the Company Board for the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby. The Company Board has directed that the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
the amendments to the Company Charter to be effected as part of the
Merger, be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their
approval following the Solicitation Period End Date to the extent
required by Law and the Company Charter and, subject to the
provisions of Section 6.4 hereof, will recommend to the
stockholders that they vote in favor of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
amendments to the Company Charter to be effected as part of the
Merger. The affirmative approval of the Merger and other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
amendments to the Company Charter to be effected as part of the
Merger, by at least a majority of all votes entitled to be cast by
the holders of all outstanding Company Shares as of the record date
for the Company Stockholders’ Meeting (the “ Company
Stockholder Approval ”) is the only vote of the holders
of any class or series of stock of the Company necessary to approve
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the amendments to the Company Charter to be
effected as part of the Merger.
3.4
Reports; Financial
Statements .
(a)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company
has timely filed or furnished all required forms, reports,
schedules, statements, financial statements and documents
(including any required schedules or exhibits) with the SEC since
December 15, 2004 (collectively, the “ Company SEC
Reports ”), each of which at the time of filing complied
in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
“ Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder applicable to such forms, reports,
statements, financial statements and documents, each as in effect
on the dates such forms, reports, statements, financial statements
and documents were filed or furnished. Except as set forth in
Section 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the
Company SEC Reports, including any financial statements or
schedules included or incorporated by reference therein, contained,
when filed or furnished and, to the extent applicable, on its
effective date or, with respect to any proxy or information
statements included in the Company SEC Reports, as of the date it
was first mailed to the Company’s stockholders, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated or incorporated by reference therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except to
the extent that such statements have been modified or superseded by
later Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this
Agreement. To the extent required, the Company and its
officers and directors have complied in all material respects with
the effective requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the
“ S-O Act ”). Except as set forth in
Section 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and
12
except to the extent such statements
have been amended or modified by later Company SEC Reports filed
prior to the date of this Agreement, the consolidated financial
statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the
Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement
complied at the time of filing as to form in all material respects
with applicable accounting standards and the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto and fairly presented in
all material respects, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) (except, in the
case of interim financial statements, as permitted by the
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC) applied on a
consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto), the consolidated financial
position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the
dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations,
cash flows and stockholders’ equity for the periods then
ended (subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial
statements, to normal year-end adjustments). There has been
no material change in Company accounting policies, except as
described in the footnotes to the financial statements in the
Company SEC Reports, since January 1, 2006. The Company and
its officers and directors are in compliance with the applicable
listing standards and corporate governance rules and regulations of
the NYSE, except where such non-compliance would not be reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(b)
The management of the Company has,
in material compliance with Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, (i)
designed and maintained (x) a system of internal control over
financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule
15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) (“ Internal Controls
”) sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and preparation of financial
statements in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations
promulgated under the Exchange Act and (y) effective disclosure
controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e)
under the Exchange Act) (“ Disclosure Controls
”) to ensure that material information relating to the
Company, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is made known to
the management of the Company by others within those entities, and
(ii) to the knowledge of the Company, disclosed, based on its most
recent evaluation prior to the date hereof, to the Company’s
auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board (A) any
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of the Company’s Internal Controls which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability
to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (B) any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Company’s
Internal Controls. To the knowledge of the Company, its Disclosure
Controls are and have been effective in timely alerting the
Company’s management to such material information required to
be included in the Company’s periodic reports required under
the Exchange Act. Neither the Company nor the Company
Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any
Representative of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries
has received any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim
regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures,
methodologies or methods of the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls and
no attorney representing the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries, has reported to the Company Board or any
committee thereof
13
evidence of a material violation of
securities Laws, breach of duties to stockholders or similar
violation by the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any of their
Representatives.
(c)
No Company Subsidiary is required to
file periodic reports with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange
Act. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding or
unresolved comments in the comment letters received from the staff
of the SEC with respect to the Company SEC Reports.
3.5
No Undisclosed
Liabilities .
Except (i) as set forth in Section 3.5 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, (ii) as reserved for in the December 31,
2006 balance sheet, or as specifically disclosed in the notes
thereto, included in the Company SEC Reports filed with or
furnished to the SEC after January 1, 2007 and prior to the date
hereof (the “ Company Filed SEC Reports ”), and
(iii) liabilities incurred on behalf of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement in accordance
herewith, none of the Company or any Company Subsidiary had any
liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise) required by GAAP to be set forth
in a consolidated balance sheet of the Company or in the notes
thereto, except for any such liabilities or obligations which would
not reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.6
Events Subsequent to Most Recent
Fiscal Quarter End . Except as set forth in Section 3.6
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, from December 31, 2006 through
the date hereof, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have
conducted their business in the ordinary course consistent with
past practice and there has not been any event, change,
development, condition or occurrence which has had or would be
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect or any action by the Company or a
Company Subsidiary that would have required Parent’s consent
pursuant to Section 5.1 of this Agreement had such action been
taken after the date hereof.
3.7
Consents and Approvals; No
Violations . Except
as set forth in Section 3.7 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, assuming the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval,
and except (a) for filings, reports, permits, authorizations,
consents and approvals as may be required under, and other
applicable requirements of, the Exchange Act, the Securities Act,
the NYSE, state securities or state “blue sky” laws,
the HSR Act (as hereinafter defined) or any other antitrust law,
(b) for the filing of the Articles of Merger, and (c) for such
filings that have already been made or such consents that already
have been received, none of the execution, delivery or performance
of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation by the Company
of the Merger or compliance by the Company with any of the
provisions hereof will (i) conflict with or result in any
breach of any provision of the organizational documents of the
Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, (ii) require any
filing by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries with,
notice to, or permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any
state, federal, foreign, supranational, provincial, local or other
government or governmental authority or by any United States,
state, foreign, supranational, provincial, local or other court of
competent jurisdiction (a “ Governmental Entity
”), (iii) require any consent or notice under, result in
a violation or breach by the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries of, constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of
time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination,
amendment, cancellation or acceleration) under, result in the
triggering of any payment or any
14
termination, buy-sell, transfer,
option, right of first refusal, right of first offer, tag-along or
any similar right by any party, or result in the creation of any
Lien or other encumbrance on any property or asset of the Company
or any of the Company Subsidiaries or otherwise give rise to any
material obligation on the part of the Company, any Company
Subsidiary or any other party pursuant to, any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
lease, license, Permit or other instrument or obligation or
Material Contract or Company Lease to which the Company or any of
the Company Subsidiaries is a party or by which they or any of
their respective properties or assets may be bound or
(iv) violate any law, order, writ, injunction, decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or
assets (each, a “ Law ” and collectively, the
“ Laws ”), excluding from the foregoing
clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) such filings, notices, permits,
authorizations, consents, approvals, violations, breaches, trigger
events, creation of liens or defaults which, individually or in the
aggregate, would not either (A) prevent or materially delay
consummation of the Merger, (B) otherwise prevent or
materially delay performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement or (C) reasonably be likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
3.8
Litigation
. Except as set forth in
Section 3.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and except for
suits, claims, actions, proceedings or investigations arising from
the usual, regular and ordinary course of operations of the Company
and its Subsidiaries involving collection matters or personal
injury or other tort litigation which are covered by adequate
insurance (subject to customary deductibles) (a) there is no
suit, claim, action, proceeding, arbitration, mediation or
investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any
officer or director thereof in connection with his or her status as
an officer or director that involves amounts in excess of $100,000
individually or in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate (or
involving any allegation of criminal activity) and (b) neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is subject to any
outstanding order, writ, judgment, injunction, stipulation, award
or decree of any Governmental Entity which, in the case of (a) or
(b), (i) questions the validity of this Agreement or any
action to be taken by the Company in connection with the
consummation of the Merger or (ii) would reasonably be likely
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no
SEC inquiries or investigations, other governmental inquiries or
investigations or internal investigations pending or threatened, in
each case regarding any accounting practices of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary or any malfeasance by any executive officer of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
3.9
Properties
.
(a)
Section 3.9(a) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list
and address of all real property owned or ground leased by the
Company and the Material Subsidiaries as of the date of this
Agreement (all such real property, together with all buildings,
structures and other improvements located on or under such real
property and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such
real property, are individually referred to herein as “
Company Property ” and collectively referred to herein
as the “ Company Properties ”). The
Company and the applicable Company Subsidiaries own good and
marketable fee simple title to, or have valid ground leasehold
interest in, each of the Company Properties, in each case free and
clear of any
15
Liens, title defects, contractual
restrictions, covenants or reservations of interests in title
(collectively, “ Property Restrictions ”),
except for (i) Permitted Liens, (ii) Property
Restrictions imposed or promulgated by Law or by any Governmental
Entity which are customary and typical for similar properties and
(iii) such Property Restrictions and other matters that would not
reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect (such matters in clauses (i), (ii)
and (iii) above, collectively, “ Permitted
Encumbrances ”). For purposes of this Agreement,
“ Permitted Liens ” means (i) Liens for
Taxes not yet due or delinquent or as to which there is a good
faith dispute and for which there are adequate reserves on the
financial statements of the Company as set forth in the Company
Filed SEC Reports in accordance with GAAP (if such reserves are
required pursuant to GAAP) or for which the responsible tenant has
provided such reserves or other protections required under the
Company Lease, (ii) any matter not constituting a mortgage
claim, lien, pledge, charge or security interest disclosed in the
Company Title Insurance Policies (as defined herein) or other
materials made available to Parent (whether material or
immaterial), Liens and obligations arising under the Material
Contracts, (iii) inchoate materialmen’s,
mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s and
repairmen’s liens arising in the usual, regular and ordinary
course and not past due and payable or the payment of which is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for
which there are adequate reserves on the financial statements of
the Company (if such reserves are required pursuant to GAAP),
(iv) the Company Leases (as defined herein) and
(v) mortgages and deeds of trust granted as security for
financings listed in the Company Disclosure Schedule. For
each Company Property that is leased by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, as landlord, to a tenant pursuant to a lease
(individually, “ Company Lease ” and
collectively, “ Company Leases ”), the Company
Lease is in full force and effect and is valid, binding and
enforceable in accordance with its terms against (a) the
Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary, and (b) to the
knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto, except as do
not have or would not reasonably be likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Section
3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a correct and
complete list of each ground lease pursuant to which the Company or
any Company Subsidiary is a lessee (individually, a “
Ground Lease ” and collectively, “ Ground
Leases ”). Each Ground Lease is in full force and effect
and is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms
against (a) the Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary, and
(b) to the knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto,
except as do not have or would not reasonably be likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect. Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
contains a true, correct and complete list of all Company Leases
(including the name of the lessee, the expiration date of the
Company Lease and the amount of the monthly rental payments due
under each Company Lease as of the date hereof before giving effect
to any contingent rent or percentage rent payable by the lessee),
and all Ground Leases (including the name of the lessor, the
expiration date of the Ground Lease and the amount of monthly
rental payments due under each Ground Lease as of the date hereof
before giving effect to any contingent rent or percentage rent
payable by the Company or applicable Company Subsidiary);
true, correct and complete copies of each such Company Lease or
Ground Lease have been made available to Purchaser. Neither
the Company nor any Company
16
Subsidiary has assigned any of its
rights under any of the Company Leases or Ground Leases.
(b)
The Company and each of the Company
Subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to all the material
personal and non-real properties and assets reflected in their
books and records as being owned by them (including those reflected
in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 set forth in the Company Filed
SEC Reports, except as since sold or otherwise disposed of in the
usual, regular and ordinary course of business), free and clear of
all Liens, except for Permitted Encumbrances.
(c)
Except as provided for in
Section 3.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) valid
policies of title insurance, or irrevocable and unconditional
commitments to issue such policy (each a “ Company Title
Insurance Policy ”), have been issued insuring, as of the
effective date of each such Company Title Insurance Policy, the
Company’s or the applicable Company Subsidiary’s (or
the applicable predecessor’s or acquiror’s) fee simple
title to, or ground leasehold interest in, the Company Properties,
in an insured amount as is customary and reasonable in the
Company’s industry, subject only to the matters and printed
exceptions as set forth in the Company Title Insurance Policies and
the Permitted Encumbrances, and such policies are, at the date
hereof, valid and in full force and effect and no written claim by
the Company has been made against any such policy, and (ii) no
Company Title Insurance Policy contains what is commonly referred
to as a standard survey exception (i.e. any state of facts which an
accurate survey would show). The Company has made available
to Parent true, correct and complete copies of all Company Title
Insurance Policies.
(d)
Section 3.9(d) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule lists (i) each of the Company Properties
as to which the Company has a future funding obligation as of the
date of this Agreement and describes the status of such obligations
as of the date hereof and (ii) all properties currently
proposed for acquisition, disposition, development or commencement
of construction by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries
pursuant to binding agreements in existence on the date
hereof.
(e)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.9(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company
has no knowledge that any certificate, permit or license from any
Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any of the Company
Properties or any agreement, easement or other right of an
unlimited duration which is necessary to permit the lawful use and
operation of all utilities, driveways, roads and other means of
egress and ingress to and from any of the Company Properties has
not been obtained, is not in full force and effect and for which a
renewal application has not been timely filed, except for such
failures to obtain, to have in full force and effect or to renew,
which do not have or would not reasonably be likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect, nor does the Company have knowledge of any pending written
threat of modification or cancellation of any of the same, which
has or would reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the
Company’s knowledge, there does not exist on the date hereof
(i) any structural defects relating to any Company Properties which
have or would reasonably be likely to
17
have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) any Company
Properties whose building systems are not in working order to an
extent which have or would reasonably be likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect; or (iii) any physical damage to any Company Properties
to an extent which have or would reasonably be likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(f)
Except as provided for in
Section 3.9(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the
Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has received (nor, to
the knowledge of the Company, has any tenant under any Company
Lease received) any written notice to the effect that (i) any
condemnation or rezoning proceedings are pending or threatened with
respect to any of the Company Properties, or (ii) any Laws
including, without limitation, any zoning regulation or ordinance,
building or similar law, code, ordinance, order or regulation have
been violated for any Company Property, in the case of
clauses (i) and (ii) above, which have or would reasonably be
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(g)
Except as provided for in
Section 3.9(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all work
required to be performed, payments required to be made and actions
required to be taken prior to the date hereof pursuant to any
application, submission or agreement the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries has entered into with a Governmental Entity in
connection with a site approval, zoning reclassification or other
similar action relating to any Company Properties (e.g., local
improvement district, road improvement district, environmental
compliance and environmental remediation, abatement and/or
mitigation) have been and are being performed, paid or taken, as
the case may be, in accordance with said application, submission or
agreement and with applicable Laws, other than those where,
individually or in the aggregate, the failure does not have and
would not reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(h)
Except as disclosed in Section
3.9(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and except as would not
reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect:
(i)
no landlord or tenant is in default
of any of its obligations under any Company Lease or Ground
Lease;
(ii)
the rents and other charges payable
under the Company Leases and Ground Leases are lawful and no claim
to the contrary has been asserted by any tenant
thereunder;
(iii)
no tenant has paid any rent for more
than one month in advance;
(iv)
no tenant has claimed, nor to the
Company’s knowledge is any tenant entitled to,
“free” rent, rent concessions, rebates, rent
abatements, set-offs or offsets against rent or other
charges;
18
(v)
no tenant has notified the Company
that it is contesting the share of tax or maintenance increases
described in any Company Lease or Ground Lease or its obligation to
pay any common area charges or cost-of-living increases as required
by any Company Lease;
(vi)
to the Company’s knowledge,
all work required to be performed by the landlord under any Company
Lease or Ground Lease has been completed and fully paid
for;
(vii)
to the Company’s knowledge,
every tenant is in possession of the premises leased by it;
and
(viii)
no leasing commissions are due and
owing to any brokers with respect to any of the Company Leases or
Ground Leases or will in the future become due and owing with
respect to actions that have been performed by such brokers on or
before the date hereof.
(i)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.9(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and except
as would not reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company
nor any of Company Subsidiaries has granted any unexpired option
agreements or rights of first refusal with respect to the purchase
of a Company Property or any portion thereof or any other unexpired
rights in favor of any third party to purchase or otherwise acquire
a Company Property which would be triggered solely by the Merger.
Except as would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, all unexpired
option agreements or rights of first refusal with respect to the
purchase of a Company Property or any portion thereof and all other
unexpired rights in favor of any third party to purchase or
otherwise acquire a Company Property provide that the purchase
price for such Company Property shall be the greater of (A) the
fair market value of such Company Property at the time of such sale
to a third party, or (B) the purchase price paid for such Company
Property when acquired by the Company or Company
Subsidiary.
(j)
Except as set forth in Section
3.9(j) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each Company Lease is a
lease pursuant to which the lessee thereunder is responsible for
the payment of all taxes, insurance and utility expenses related to
the Company Property subject to such Company Lease.
(k)
Except as set forth in Section
3.9(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all real property taxes
and special assessments with respect to the Company Properties
which were due and payable prior to the date hereof have been paid
in full, except as would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(l)
Except as would not be reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company Properties and the present
use and condition thereof do not violate any applicable deed
restrictions or other
19
covenants, restrictions or
agreements, site plan approvals, zoning or subdivision regulations
or urban redevelopment plans applicable thereto, as modified by any
duly issued variances, and (ii) no building or other improvement
that is part of any of the Company Properties encroaches upon any
property owned by any adjacent landowner or upon any real property
interest held by any other person or entity.
3.10
Employee Plans
.
(a)
Section 3.10(a) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of
each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of ERISA
Section 3(3) whether or not subject to ERISA, and each other
benefit program, policy, agreement, understanding, arrangement,
policy, practice or plan (whether written or oral) providing
compensation or benefits to any current or former director,
employee or consultant (or any dependent or beneficiary thereof),
including employment agreements, bonuses, incentive compensation,
change in control benefits, vacation, severance, insurance,
cafeteria, medical, disability, restricted stock, stock options,
employee discounts, company cars, tuition reimbursement, stock
purchase, stock appreciation, phantom stock, other stock-based
compensation plans, programs or policies, holiday, deferred
compensation or any other perquisite or benefit (collectively, the
“ Employee Programs ”), which is currently, or
since the Company’s formation was, maintained, sponsored or
contributed to (or with respect to which any obligation to
contribute has been undertaken) by the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate. Each Employee Program that is intended to qualify under
Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable
determination or opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service
(the “ IRS ”) regarding its qualification
thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has
occurred and no condition exists that is reasonably expected to
result in the revocation of any such determination.
(b)
With respect to each Employee
Program, the Company has provided, or made available, to Parent (if
applicable to such Employee Program) true, correct and complete
copies of: (i) all documents embodying or governing such
Employee Program (or, if not written, a written summary of its
material terms), and any funding medium for the Employee Program
(including, without limitation, trust agreements); (ii) the
most recent IRS determination or opinion letter with respect to
such Employee Program under Code Section 401(a);
(iii) the three (3) most recently filed IRS Form 5500, if
applicable; (iv) the most recent summary plan description for
such Employee Program (or other descriptions of such Employee
Program provided to employees) and all modifications thereto;
(v) all material correspondence with the Department of Labor
or the IRS; (vi) any insurance policy information related to
such Employee Program and (vii) the most recent actuarial report or
financial statements relating to such Employee Program, if
any.
(c)
Each Employee Program complies with
and has been administered in accordance with its terms and the
requirements of applicable law, including, without limitation,
ERISA and the Code (including, without limitation, Section 409A of
the Code), except as would not reasonably be likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect. With respect to each Employee Program, all tax,
annual reporting and other governmental filings required by ERISA
and the Code have
20
been timely filed with the
appropriate governmental entity and all notices and disclosures
have been timely provided to participants. With respect to
the Employee Programs, no event has occurred and, to the knowledge
of Company, there exists no condition or set of circumstances in
connection with which the Company could be subject to any liability
(other than for routine benefit liabilities) under the terms of, or
with respect to, such Employee Programs, ERISA, the Code or any
other applicable Law, except as would not reasonably be likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect. No Employee Program is subject to Title IV of
ERISA, is an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning of
Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code, a voluntary employees’
beneficiary association or is a multiemployer plan, within the
meaning of ERISA Section 3(37).
(d)
Except as set forth in Section
3.10(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, full payment has been
made, or otherwise properly accrued on the books and records of the
Company and any ERISA Affiliate, of all amounts that the Company
and any ERISA Affiliate are required under the terms of the
Employee Programs to have paid as contributions to such Employee
Programs on or prior to the Closing Date (excluding any amounts not
yet due) and the contribution requirements, on a prorated basis,
for the current year have been made or otherwise properly accrued
on the books and records of the Company through the Closing
Date.
(e)
No material liability, claim, action
or litigation has been made, commenced or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened with respect to any Employee Program (other
than for benefits payable in the ordinary course of
business).
(f)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no
Employee Program provides for medical, life insurance or other
welfare plan benefits (other than under Section 4980B of the
Code or state health continuation laws) to any current or future
retiree or former employee and all such plans have effectively
reserved the right to amend or terminate such plans without
participant consent.
(g)
All Company Stock Options have an
exercise price per share that was not less than the “fair
market value” of a Company Share on the date of grant, as
determined in accordance with the terms of the applicable Employee
Program and, to the extent applicable, Sections 409A and 422 of the
Code. All Company Stock Options have been properly accounted
for by the Company in accordance with GAAP, and no change is
expected in respect of any prior Company financial statement
relating to expenses for stock compensation. To the
Company’s knowledge, there is no pending or threatened audit,
investigation or inquiry by any governmental agency or by the
Company with respect to the Company’s stock option granting
practices or other equity compensation practices.
(h)
Except as would not reasonably be
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect, the Company has withheld and paid all
amounts required by applicable Law or by agreement to be withheld
from the wages, salaries, and other payments to employees,
independent contractors and other service
21
providers, and is not liable for any
arrears of wages or any taxes or any penalty for failure to
withhold or pay such amounts. The Company has properly
classified all individuals providing services to the Company or any
of the Company Subsidiaries as employees or non-employees for all
relevant purposes.
(i)
(A) Except as set forth in Section
3.10(i)(A) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or as contemplated in
Section 2.1(e) hereof, neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby will result in any payment, acceleration or creation of any
rights of any person to benefits under any Employee Program; (B)
except as set forth in Section 3.10(i)(B) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, no amount that could be received (whether in cash,
property, the vesting of property or otherwise) as a result of or
in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (either alone or in combination with
any other event), by any employee, officer, director or other
service provider of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries
who is a “disqualified individual” (as such term is
defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1) could reasonably
be expected to be characterized as an “excess parachute
payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code); and
(C) except as set forth in Section 3.10(i)(C) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary
is a party to any contract, agreement, plan or arrangement covering
any persons that, individually or collectively, would reasonably be
expected to give rise to the payment of any amount that would
constitute compensation in excess of the limitations set forth in
Section 162(m) of the Code.
(j)
Section 3.10(j) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of
(i) all Company Restricted Shares that are subject to vesting
conditions on the date hereof and will be vested and no longer
subject to repurchase by the Company at the Effective Time, and
(ii) all Company Stock Options, including the exercise price
thereof, that are unexercised and outstanding on the date hereof
and will be vested and exercisable at the Effective Time, assuming
in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, that no other event or
circumstance occurs that would cause such Company Restricted Shares
or Company Stock Options to be forfeited by the holder, exercised
by the holder or repurchased by the Company.
3.11
Labor Matters
.
(a)
Neither the Company nor any Company
Subsidiary is a party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining
agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding with a
labor union or labor union organization, nor are there any
negotiations or discussions currently pending or occurring between
the Company, or any of the Company Subsidiaries, and any union or
employee association regarding any collective bargaining agreement
or any other work rules or polices. There is no unfair labor
practice or labor arbitration proceeding pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any
Company Subsidiary relating to its business. To the Company’s
knowledge, there are no organizational efforts with respect to the
formation of a collective bargaining unit presently being made or
threatened involving employees of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary.
22
(b)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are
no proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary in any
forum by or on behalf of any present or former employee of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary, any applicant for employment or
classes of the foregoing alleging breach of any express or implied
employment contract, violation of any law or regulation governing
employment or the termination thereof, or any other discriminatory,
wrongful or tortious conduct on the part of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary in connection with the employment
relationship.
3.12
Environmental Matters
.
(a)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and except
as would not reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect: (i) there are no
Hazardous Materials or underground storage tanks in, on, or under
the Company Properties, except those that are both (1) in
compliance with Environmental Laws and with permits issued pursuant
thereto (if such permits are required), if any, and (2) in the
case of Hazardous Materials, in amounts not in excess of that
necessary to operate the Company Property or in amounts used by
tenants in the ordinary course of business; (ii) there are no
past, present or threatened Releases of Hazardous Materials in
violation of any Environmental Law or which would require
remediation existing in, on, under or from the Company Properties;
(iii) there is no threat of any Release of Hazardous Materials
migrating to the Company Properties; (iv) there is no past or
present non-compliance with Environmental Laws, or with permits
issued pursuant thereto, in connection with the Company Property;
(v) the Company does not know of, and has not received, any written
or oral notice or other communication from any person relating to
Hazardous Materials in, on, under or from the Company Properties;
and (vi) the Company has truthfully and fully provided to
Parent and Merger Sub, in writing, any and all material information
relating to environmental conditions in, on, under or from the
Company Properties known to the Company or contained in the
Company’s files and records, including but not limited to any
reports relating to Hazardous Materials in, on, under or migrating
to or from the Company Properties and/or to the environmental
condition of the Company Properties.
(b)
Except as described in
Section 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of
the Company Properties currently owned, leased or operated by the
Company or a Company Subsidiary is subject to any pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened
Environmental Claim.
(c)
Except (i) as described in
Section 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (ii) as
would not reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) as shown on
the surveys or floodplain certificates listed on
Section 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are
no wetlands (as that term is defined in Section 404 of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended,
33 U.S.C. Section 1254, and applicable state laws)
at any of the Company Properties.
23
(d)
Except as listed on
Section 3.12(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or as would
not reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Company Material Adverse Effect, no Company Property is subject
to any current or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
environmental deed restriction, use restriction, institutional or
engineering control or order or agreement with any Governmental
Entity or any other restriction of record.
(e)
Except where a tenant is responsible
for maintaining compliance and is making, or is responsible for
making, required expenditures, no material capital expenditures are
presently required to maintain or achieve compliance with
Environmental Laws. To the Company’s knowledge, no
tenant required to make a material capital expenditure to maintain
or achieve compliance with Environmental Laws on a Company Property
is in default of such obligation.
(f)
Except as would not reasonably be
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect, there have been no incidents of water
damage or visible evidence of mold, bacteria or toxic growth at any
of the Company Properties.
(g)
Except for customary terms in favor
of lenders in mortgages and trusts and terms in favor of tenants
with respect to conditions that were pre-existing when the tenant
took possession, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has
assumed any liability of or duty to indemnify or pay contribution
to any other party for any claim, damage or loss arising out of any
Hazardous Material or pursuant to any Environmental Law.
(h)
Except as disclosed in
Section 3.12(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no party
who has agreed to indemnify, defend and/or hold harmless the
Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to any Environmental
Claims or liabilities under any Environmental Laws has defaulted
or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, is
reasonably likely to default upon said obligations.
(i)
Except as would not reasonably be
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect, no filing, notification or other
submission to any Governmental Entity or any approval from any
Governmental Entity is required under any Environmental Law for the
execution of this Agreement or for the consummation of the Merger
or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby.
(j)
Except as would not reasonably be
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received any request for information from any
Governmental Entity, pursuant to Section 104(e) of CERCLA (as
defined below) or any similar Environmental Law.
As used in this
Agreement:
“ Environmental Claims
” means any and all administrative, regulatory, judicial or
third-party claims, demands, notices of violation or
non-compliance, directives, proceedings, investigations, orders,
decrees, judgments or other allegations of noncompliance with or
liability
24
or potential liability, or any
responsibility, relating in any way to any Environmental Law or any
Company environmental permit, as the case may be.
“ Environmental Laws
” means all applicable federal, state, and local Laws, rules
and regulations, orders, judgments, decrees and other legal
requirements including, without limitation, common law relating to
pollution or the regulation and protection of human health, safety,
the environment or natural resources, including, but not limited
to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601
et seq.) (“ CERCLA ”); the Hazardous
Materials Transportation Act, as amended (49 U.S.C.
Section 5101 et seq.); the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended (7 U.S.C.
Section 136 et seq.); the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 6901
et seq.); the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended
(42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.); the Clean Air Act,
as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.); the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C.
Section 1251 et seq.); the Occupational Safety and Health
Act, as amended (29 U.S.C. Section 651 et seq.); the
Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (42 U.S.C.
Section 300f et seq.); and their state and local
counterparts or equivalents and any transfer of ownership
notification or approval statute.
“ Hazardous Material
” means all substances, pollutants, chemicals, compounds,
wastes, including, without limitation, petroleum and any fraction
thereof or substances otherwise potentially injurious to human
health and the environment, including without limitation asbestos
or asbestos containing material, bacteria, mold, fungi or other
toxic growth, regulated under Environmental Laws.
The Company and its Subsidiaries
have made available to Parent all material environmental audits,
reports and other material environmental documents and reports in
their possession or control relating to their current and, to the
extent the Company or its Subsidiaries have knowledge that they are
potentially liable, their or any of their respective
predecessors’ formerly owned or operated properties,
facilities or operations.
3.13
Tax Matters
.
(a)
All material Tax Returns (as
hereinafter defined) required to be filed by or on behalf of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary have been properly and timely
filed with the appropriate taxing authorities in all jurisdictions
in which such Tax Returns are required to be filed (after giving
effect to any valid extensions of time in which to make such
filings), and all such Tax Returns, as amended, are true, accurate
and complete in all material respects. All material Taxes due
and payable by or on behalf of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary (whether or not shown in a Tax Return) have been fully
and timely paid taking into account any extensions or similar
administrative relief which may have been obtained by the Company
or are being contested in good faith and have been adequately
reserved in accordance with GAAP on the financial statements
included in the Company Filed SEC Reports. As of the date of
the most recent Company Filed SEC Report, adequate reserves or
accruals for Taxes have been provided in accordance with GAAP on
the financial statements included in such Company Filed SEC Report
with respect to any Taxes which are not yet due and owing and since
the date of the most recent Company Filed SEC Report none of the
Company and the Company
25
Subsidiaries has incurred any
material liability for Taxes outside the ordinary course of
business. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has
executed or filed with the IRS or any other taxing authority any
agreement, waiver or other document or arrangement extending or
having the effect of extending the period for assessment or
collection of Taxes (including, but not limited to, any applicable
statute of limitation). To the knowledge of the Company and
the Company Subsidiaries, no request for any such waiver or
extension is currently pending. No power of attorney with
respect to any Tax matter is currently in force, except in
connection with the appeals of local Tax assessments described in
Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
(b)
The Company (i) for all taxable
years commencing in 2003, the year in which the Company first made
an election under Section 856(c)(1) of the Code to be treated as a
real estate investment trust (a “ REIT ”),
through the most recent December 31, has elected and has been
subject to federal taxation as a REIT within the meaning of
Section 856 of the Code and any corresponding provision of
relevant state Law and has satisfied all requirements to qualify as
a REIT for such years, (ii) has operated, and intends to
continue to operate, in such a manner as to qualify as a REIT for
the taxable year of this Agreement and, if different, the taxable
year including the Effective Time, (iii) has not taken or omitted
to take any action that could reasonably be expected to result in a
challenge by the IRS or any other taxing authority to the
Company’s status as a REIT and (iv) to the
Company’s knowledge, no challenge to the Company’s
status as a REIT is pending or threatened in writing. Taking
into account the distributions permitted under Section 5.1, if the
taxable year of the Company were to close on the Closing Date, the
Company would have satisfied all requirements to qualify as a REIT
for such year end, including all distribution requirements.
Each Company Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company or business trust (i) has been since its
formation and continues to be treated for federal and state income
tax purposes as a partnership or disregarded entity, as the case
may be, and not as a corporation or an association taxable as a
corporation and (ii) has not since the later of the date of its
formation or the acquisition by the Company of a direct or indirect
interest therein, owned any assets that would cause the Company to
violate the requirements of Section 856(c)(4) of the Code.
Each Company Subsidiary that is a corporation has been since the
later of the date of its formation or the date on which such
Company Subsidiary became a Company Subsidiary and continues to be
treated for federal income tax purposes as a “qualified REIT
subsidiary” pursuant to Section 856(i) of the Code and
any corresponding provision of relevant state Law or a
“taxable REIT subsidiary” pursuant to
Section 856(l) of the Code and any corresponding provision of
relevant state Law. Except as set forth on
Section 3.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary holds any assets the
disposition of which would be subject to rules similar to
Section 1374 of the Code, including pursuant to Treasury
Regulations promulgated under Section 337 of the Code.
(c)
Since 2003, the Company has not
incurred any material liability for taxes under Sections 857(b),
860(c) or 4981 of the Code, including without limitation any tax
arising from a prohibited transaction within the meaning of
Section 857(b)(6) of the Code or any tax arising from
“redetermined rents, redetermined deductions and excess
interest” within the meaning of Section 857(b)(7) of the
Code. To the knowledge of the Company,
26
no event has occurred, and no
condition or circumstance exists, which presents a material risk
that any material tax described in the preceding sentence will be
imposed on the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
(d)
Except as set forth in Section
3.13(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) there is no
material deficiency asserted or material assessment made in writing
by any taxing authority against the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, (ii) there is no audit, examination, or proceeding
relating to any material Taxes of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary by any taxing authority in progress, (iii) to the
knowledge of the Company, there is no such audit, examination or
proceeding pending, and (iv) all material deficiencies asserted or
material assessments made have been paid in full.
(e)
Each of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries (i) has complied in all material respects with
all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of
Taxes; (ii) has duly and timely withheld from employee
salaries, wages and other compensation and from amounts paid or
owing to any independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other
Person and has paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities all
material amounts required to be withheld and paid over on or prior
to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws; and
(iii) has in all material respects properly completed and
timely filed all IRS Forms W-2 and 1099 required
thereof.
(f)
The Company has made available to
Parent correct and complete copies of (A) all Tax Returns of
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries relating to the taxable
periods ending since December 31, 2003 which have been filed
with any taxing authority and (B) any audit report issued
since December 31, 2003 relating to any Taxes due from or with
respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
(g)
No claim has been made in writing by
a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any
Company Subsidiary does not file a Tax Return stating that such
entity is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction for
Taxes that would be covered by or the subject of such Tax Return
which claim has not been fully paid or settled to the satisfaction
of such taxing authority.
(h)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.13(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor any other Person on
behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has requested any
extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, which Tax
Return has since not been filed or is not expected to be filed
within the extension period.
(i)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.13(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary (i) is a party to any tax
sharing or similar agreement or arrangement pursuant to which any
Company or Company Subsidiary will be bound or have any liability
or have any obligation to make any payments after the Closing and
(ii) has liability for any other Person pursuant to Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of federal,
state, local or foreign Law), as a transferee or successor, by
contract or otherwise.
27
(j)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.13(j) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has requested or received a
private letter ruling from the IRS or a comparable ruling from any
taxing authority or has entered into any written closing or similar
agreement with a taxing authority with respect to any material
Taxes.
(k)
Except as set forth in
Section 3.13(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has engaged in any
reportable or listed transaction within the meaning of
Section 6011 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations
thereunder or in any transaction about which it has made disclosure
to any taxing authority to avoid the imposition of
penalties.
(l)
The Company has no class of
outstanding stock that is not regularly traded on an established
securities market within the meaning of Section 1445(b)(6) of
the Code.
(m)
The Company has no earnings and
profits within the meaning of the Code that have been accumulated
in, or are attributable to, any taxable period of such entity (or a
predecessor) for which such entity (or a predecessor) was not
taxable as a REIT or a qualified REIT subsidiary within the meaning
of Section 856(i) of the Code.
(n)
Neither the Company nor any Company
Subsidiary has constituted either a “distributing
corporation” or a “controlled corporation”
(within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a
distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under
Section 355 of the Code (or under so much of Section 356 of the
Code as relates to Section 355 of the Code) in the two (2) years
prior to the date of this Agreement.
(o)
For purposes of this Agreement,
“ Tax ” or “ Taxes ” shall
mean any federal, state, local or foreign taxes, charges, fees,
duties, imposts, levies, gaming or other assessments, including,
without limitation, all income, gross income, net income, gross
receipts, net worth, general corporate, production, capital, sales,
use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits,
windfall profit, gains, utility, inventory, unincorporated
business, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment,
social security, unemployment, disability, worker’s
compensation, environmental (including Taxes under Code Section
59A), excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, privilege,
registration, alternative, add-on, minimum, recording, personal or
real property, estimated and other taxes, customs duties, fees,
assessments and like charges of any kind whatsoever, together with
any interest and any penalties, fines, additions to tax or
additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Entity (domestic or
foreign) and shall include any transferee or successor liability in
respect of taxes, any liability in respect of taxes under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of
federal, state, local or foreign Law, or imposed by contract, tax
sharing agreement, tax indemnity agreement or any similar
agreement. “ Tax Return ” shall mean any
report, return, document, declaration, statement, election or any
other information or filing (including any attached schedules and
related or supporting information) filed or required to be supplied
to any taxing authority or jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) with
respect to any Tax, including, without limitation, any information
return, claim for refund, amended return or any document with
respect to or accompanying payments or estimated Taxes,
or
28
with respect to or accompanying
requests for the extension of time in which to file any such
report, return, document, declaration, statement, election or other
information or filing.
(p)
Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, for purposes of the representations and
warranties contained in Section 3.13(a), 3.13(d), 3.13(e), 3.13(f),
3.13(g), 3.13(h), 3.13(j) and 3.13(k), as such representations and
warranties relate to Spirit SK Acquisition, LLC or its
predecessor (“ShopKo”) and ShopKo’s
Subsidiaries and to Tax periods of ShopKo and ShopKo’s
Subsidiaries ending on or prior to the date of the Company’s
acquisition of ShopKo, or to Spirit Pocono Corporation or its
predecessor (“Camelback”) and to Tax periods of
Camelback ending on or prior to the date of the Company’s
acquisition of Camelback, the Company represents and warrants that
the statements contained in such subsections are true and correct
(determined without regard to any materiality qualification
contained in any representation) except where the failure of such
representation and warranty to be true and correct does not have or
would not reasonably be likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.14
Material Contracts
.
(a)
Except for agreements filed as
exhibits to, or incorporated by reference in, the Company Filed SEC
Reports filed with the SEC after January 1, 2006,
Section 3.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth
a list of all Material Contracts. Solely for purposes of this
Agreement, “ Material Contract ” means the
following written or oral contracts or agreements (and all
amendments, modifications and supplements thereto to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party affecting the
obligations of any party thereunder) to which the Company or any
Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their respective
properties or assets are bound:
(i)
(A) employment agreements,
severance, change in control or termination agreements with
officers, labor or collective bargaining agreements (but excluding
(x) personal service contracts and (y) contracts which
provide for payments of not more than $100,000 individually and not
more than $1,000,000 in the aggregate), (B) non-competition
agreements and (C) indemnification agreements with officers,
and directors of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
(ii)
partnership or joint venture
agreements with a party other than the Company or any wholly-owned
Company Subsidiary (a “ Third Party
”);
(iii)
loan or credit agreements, letters
of credit, bonds, mortgages, indentures, guarantees, or other
material agreements or instruments evidencing indebtedness by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary or any such agreement pursuant to
which indebtedness may be incurred, or evidencing security for any
of the foregoing in each case relating to indebtedness or potential
maximum indebtedness in excess of $100,000 (excluding inter-company
debt or guaranties of debt of wholly-owned Subsidiaries) or any
agreement that would restrict the
29
Company or any Company Subsidiary
from prepaying any of their material indebtedness without penalty
or premium at any time or which requires any of them to maintain
any amount of material indebtedness with respect to any of the
Company Properties;
(iv)
agreements that (A) limit or purport
to limit, curtail or restrict the ability of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary (or, after the Effective Time, Parent or any of
its Affiliates) to compete in any geographic area or line of
business, other than exclusive lease provisions, non-compete
provisions and other similar leasing restrictions entered into by
the Company or any Company Subsidiary in the usual, regular and
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice contained
in the Company Leases and in other recorded documents by which real
property was conveyed by the Company to any user, (B) require the
disposition of any material asset or line of business of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary (or, after the Effective Time,
Parent or any of its Affiliates), (C) grant to any Person the right
to receive the best or most favorable terms offered by the Company
or any Company Subsidiary (or, after the Effective Time, Parent or
any of its Affiliates) to any other Person, or (D) prohibit or
restrict in a material manner the right of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary (or, after the Effective Time, Parent or any of
its Affiliates) to make, sell or distribute any products or
services or use, transfer, license, distribute or enforce any
rights with respect to Intellectual Property;
(v)
contracts or agreements that would
be required to be filed as an exhibit to the Form 10-K or Forms
10-Q filed by the Company with the SEC since December 31,
2006;
(vi)
except for Company Leases, binding
agreements for the pending purchase or sale, option to purchase or
sell, right of first refusal, right of first offer or any other
contractual right to purchase, sell, dispose of, or master lease,
by merger, purchase or sale of assets or stock or otherwise, any
real property, including any Company Property, or any asset that if
purchased by the Company or any Company Subsidiary would be a
Company Property, in each case in effect on the date hereof and
where the applicable real property or Company Property has a fair
market value in excess of $25,000,000;
(vii)
interest rate cap, interest rate
collar, interest rate swap, currency hedging transaction and any
other agreement relating to a similar transaction in excess of
$5,000,000 in notional amount to which the Company or any Company
Subsidiary is a party or an obligor with respect
thereto;
(viii)
except for any agreement that is not
material, by dollar amount or significance, to the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, agreements (A) relating to
the management of any Company Property by any Person other than the
Company or a Company Subsidiary or (B) pursuant to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary manages or provides services with
respect to any real properties other than the Company
Properties;
30
(ix)
agreements pursuant to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary has potential liability in
respect of any purchase price adjustment, earn-out or contingent
purchase price that, in each case, could reasonably be expected to
result in future payments to a third party of more than
$1,000,000;
(x)
agreements relating to the
settlement or proposed settlement of any suit, claim, action,
proceeding, arbitration, mediation or investigation, which involves
the issuance by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of equity
securities or the payment by the Company or any Company Subsidiary
of an amount in excess of $1,000,000 (or provides for injunctive
relief); and
(xi)
each other contract (including,
without limitation, any brokerage agreements) entered into by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary, which may result in total
payments by or liability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary
in excess of $200,000; provided that any contract involving
total payments by or liability of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary of less than $1,000,000 under the foregoing clause that,
by its terms, is terminable (without termination fee or penalty)
within six months of the date of this Agreement or with no more
than 60 days prior notice shall not be deemed to be a Material
Contract.
(b)
The Company has made available to
Parent true and complete copies of all Material Contracts. The
Material Contracts are legal, valid, binding and enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms with respect to the Company
or applicable Company Su